At the Game Horizon conference, Epic Games VP Mark Rein warned of the looming free-to-play console storm, reports Joystiq. "The next-gen consoles are going to be fully embracing the free-to-play and these IAP-type business models," he said.

"So in case you don't know that I'm putting that out there. Sony and Microsoft are both going heavily in that area. I'm telling you what they're telling developers," explained Rein.

I imagine there will be growing pains as developers who previously weren't doing F2P gaming or in-app purchases try to catch up, and others will merely go wild with anti-consumer implementation of the systems intentionally because they can get away with it. There are good and bad ways to integrate this stuff -- here's hoping the latter doesn't become the norm on consoles.

The folks at Splash Damage have been busy over the last two years. Since the release of Brink and a stint on Batman: Arkham Origins' multiplayer, they figured it was time to return to their roots with a heavy focus on PC...more

Final Fantasy: All the Bravest was a travesty. It played itself, it was pretty abrasive in its pandering, and the microtransactions were so pushy that it was hard to enjoy it without feeling like you were constantly being sold something.
Final Fantasy: Record Keeper is another free-to-play game in the same vein, but it's a much better effort that doesn't feel straight-up insulting to fans.more

Halo Online sounds like something you'd see scribbled on a homemade DVD complete with copyright-infringing cover art but, no, it's a proper PC game in development at Saber Interactive.
Granted, it's a free-to-play, multiplaye...more